Hopkins Homes, part of the untypical housebuilding group, has completed a land deal that will bring new homes to a village north of Colchester. The 23-acre site in Great Horkesley benefits from outline planning permission for 100 homes and a reserved matters application is due to be submitted in April.  Subject to planning approval, work is expected to begin on site in January 2026, with the first legal completions in December 2026. Duncan Jackson, Managing Director of Hopkins Homes, part of the untypical group said: “Our track record of creating distinctive new homes, reinforced by our five-star customer satisfaction rating, has established Hopkins Homes as a trusted choice for landowners throughout East Anglia.” Duncan added: “With sustainability at the core of our developments, we’re committed to building communities that thrive for generations.   Our most recent acquisition in Great Horkesley will be no exception, with placemaking at its heart and a range of distinctive new homes that give a nod to our heritage whilst providing energy efficient modern living.” Great Horkesley has been identified for housing development within the adopted Local Plan and the proposed scheme will include 30 affordable homes, contributing to the local community’s housing diversity and accessibility. Furthermore, the development will incorporate a generous 5.1 hectares of public open space, including a new community allotment and a Scouts and Girl Guide hut. Hopkins Homes has considerable experience in developing homes in Essex, with properties currently for sale at River Reach, Mistley and Beaulieu, Chelmsford. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London Square has purchased the Leegate Shopping Centre in South East London from Galliard Homes, paving the way for a major residential-led regeneration scheme. The vacant 1967-built shopping centre, acquired for an undisclosed sum, has planning consent for 562 homes, including 173 affordable units, alongside nearly 50,000 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space. The site will be redeveloped into a 15-storey residential tower, as approved by Lewisham Council in July 2023. Construction is set to commence later this year. “This acquisition marks a new era for Lee town centre, delivering much-needed homes and a vibrant retail and leisure hub for both the existing community and new residents,” said London Square chief executive Adam Lawrence. The deal is London Square’s 14th acquisition since being taken over by Aldar at the end of 2023. It follows the company’s recent purchase of Ransome’s Wharf in Battersea earlier this year. Other notable acquisitions include a former convent site in Chelsea, the Grade II-listed Surrey County Hall in Kingston, and Westminster Tower. London Square currently holds 14 sites across 10 London boroughs, with a development pipeline exceeding 2 million sq ft. Work is already in progress on 10 of these sites, supporting the developer’s ambition to build more than 7,000 homes in the capital over the next five years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, and UK’s leading social enterprise Places for People have formed a joint venture to deliver 800 high-quality mixed-tenure homes in Lower Herne, Kent. Work on the first phase of Lower Herne Village – Greenwood Gardens, commenced in May 2024 and will provide 128mixed-tenure homes, comprising 65 private homes and 63 shared ownership properties. The first phase will include a mix of one, two, three- and four-bedroom homes, designed to accommodate a range of buyers, including first-time purchasers and families. The first tranche of private and affordable homes will be complete by the end of this month.  The recently opened four-bedroom showhome now provides prospective buyers with an opportunity to view the quality and design of the homes available for sale on the open market, and a separate shared ownership show home by Places for People is also available to view The first phase of development also includes significant Section 106 contributions to support this evolving new community. A key highlight of the development is the Herne Relief Road, which will help reduce traffic congestion in Herne Village, improve local connectivity and support the expansion of the area. The joint venture between Vistry and Places for People aims to create a well-connected, sustainable community in Lower Herne Village and as the neighbourhood expands, future phases will bring even more homes, offering a mix of private, shared ownership, and rental properties. The development benefits from being within close proximity to Herne Bay’s amenities, transport links, and green spaces, reinforcing the strategic partnership’s commitment to delivering sustainable housing solutions. Future phases of the development include Phases C & D, comprising 296 homes – 146 private, 108 shared ownership, and 42 PRS units – which are scheduled for planning approval in March 2025, and the entire development is expected to be completed over the next ten years, with an anticipated completion date of 2035. Brendan Evans, Managing Director at Vistry Group Kent said: “We are making great progress at Greenwood Gardens through our partnership with Places for People, and are delivering at pace the mix of high-quality homes and the infrastructure required to support long-term sustainable communities.” Sammie Steele, Regional Managing Director for Greater London at Places for People said: “We’re dedicated to building homes that work for local people, and are really excited to have reached this key milestone at Greenwood Gardens.. In partnership with Vistry, we are building on this already bustling local community bringing forward more stylish and contemporary new homes, across multiple tenures.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Landsec has submitted a planning application for the first phase of its £1.4 billion Mayfield Park masterplan in Manchester, proposing 879 new homes as part of a major regeneration project. Designed in collaboration with architects Studio Egret West and shedkm, the new homes will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The development will also feature shops, restaurants, cafés, a health and wellbeing club, and community spaces, creating a vibrant urban hub. If approved, the first phase will also deliver 325,000 sq ft of office space across two buildings, alongside a multi-modal transport hub, which will include Manchester’s largest cycle park with hundreds of spaces. The office and transport hub received initial consent in 2020, with revisions made in 2023 to align with current market conditions. The residential buildings will be arranged across four blocks, each containing both low-rise and taller tower elements. Streets will connect the development from the Mancunian Way in the south to Mayfield Park in the north, integrating the new homes into the wider cityscape. Landsec has committed to providing 20% affordable housing across the district, with an independent viability appraisal set to determine the final levels for the site. The company, in partnership with the Mayfield Partnership, is also looking to expand and enhance the existing public green space in the area. Mike Hood, chief executive at LandsecU+I, commented:“Our ambition for Mayfield is to create a diverse, green, world-class place where everyone feels welcome, whether to live, work, or visit. Since opening the park in 2022, we’ve been on a mission to grow it across the 24-acre masterplan. Expanding the green space and introducing the first homes alongside workplaces at Mayfield is an exciting milestone. It’s incredible to think that just a few years ago, much of this area was disused and derelict land. “We look forward to continuing to shape Mayfield’s future alongside our partners and local residents.” Construction timelines for the project have yet to be announced. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Building work on new community facilities including an exclusive coffee shop, a handy supermarket and boutique local shops is continuing at a great pace at Wellington Place. Visitors to the development off Leicester Road will notice the vision for the community hub near Davidsons Homes’ parcel of the site starting to become a reality. The buildings will form the heart of Wellington Place, offering an attractive destination for visitors and local people to stroll around and enjoy. Ethical coffee chain Esquires has been confirmed as one proprietor, following its initial successful venture into the centre of Market Harborough. A local Sainsbury’s will also open at Wellington Place, giving buyers and local people a handy new place to shop. Iain Pickering, Design Director for Davidsons Homes, said: “The community facilities at Wellington Place have been designed not just as a convenient pitstop for locals, but a hub that people will be able to stroll around and enjoy. “Visitors to our development at Wellington Place, or even those using the new road connecting it to our Lubenham View development, may have noticed the buildings appearing at a great rate. It’s wonderful to see our vision begin to be realised and to see just how this section of the development will act as the focal point of the site. “From Wellington Place, there’s a lovely walk along the canal to The Waterfront, a restaurant where you can enjoy a summer’s evening sat sipping a cool drink and watching the canal boats moored up nearby. Or those that want to venture a little further afield could even cycle to Foxton Locks, a historic site with the longest flight of locks in Britain. Buyers could also walk along the main road to the centre of Market Harborough, where independent shops, well-regarded restaurants and vibrant coffee shops await. “Our Wellington Place local centre means though, that you won’t have to leave the development if you don’t want to. All facilities that could be needed are right here, giving our buyers the best of both worlds.” The facilities at Wellington Place are set to open later this year. For more information and to see the latest homes available to buy at Wellington Place, visit davidsonshomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Residential developer McLaren Living has received planning permission for a 314-home build-to-rent (BTR) mixed-use scheme in Watford, Hertfordshire. The development will transform the former Watford Police Station and Magistrates Court on Clarendon Road, incorporating co-living units alongside the residential offering. The 1.75-acre brownfield site will also feature a new public green square, 31,441 sq ft of workspace, 4,485 sq ft of retail space, including a café, and approximately 6,000 sq ft of children’s play areas. The plans include enhanced public spaces, landscaping, parking, and 400 cycle spaces. McLaren has committed to reducing the project’s embodied carbon by repurposing some existing structures, targeting an overall carbon reduction of 72.5%. Patrick Joyce, development director at McLaren Living, said: “We very much look forward to delivering on our plans for Clarendon Road and bringing forward a new mixed-use urban quarter for Watford. It is an exciting opportunity to revitalise this part of Clarendon Road and to deliver much-needed homes, workspace, a new garden square, and public realm on an underutilised town centre site. We will continue to work with Watford Borough Council, the local community, and stakeholders as we bring our proposals forward.” As part of the development, McLaren will contribute £3.5 million through Section 106 agreements. Hertfordshire Police Constabulary vacated the site in February 2024. Details regarding construction timelines and costs have yet to be disclosed. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Keon Homes has hailed being named on the £1billion Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework as a transformational moment for its business. The specialist in affordable housing and extra care schemes beat off intense competition to be granted preferred contractor status on all sites over 20 plots in the city and surrounding areas. It is about to start construction work on the £40m New Park Village remodelling project in the summer and is shortly getting underway with the first phase of 99 new bungalows at Lincoln Green in Bushbury. Five new jobs have been created at the Burntwood-based developer with tens more expected to follow indirectly in the supply chain. Importantly, the Housing Development Framework also included a Direct Award for Keon Homes, providing authorised users with a streamlined process to procure works for the next four years. This is open to any local authority or registered provider across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, and the West Midlands. Matt Beckley, Partnerships Director, commented: “This is arguably the biggest deal in our history, with the opportunity to support the redevelopment of some key housing sites in Wolverhampton and, then potentially, further afield. “Our track record for bringing challenging schemes to market and then completing them on time and to budget played a key role in the award, that and our passion for creating communities where individuals and families can thrive. It’s more than bricks and mortar to us.” He continued: “New Park Village and Lincoln Green are two sites that drastically needed remodelling, especially the latter where old, prefabricated accommodation was coming to the end of its lifecycle in terms of structural integrity and energy efficiency. We’re replacing these with highly energy efficient properties that will be built using the latest construction techniques and with green spaces at their heart, meeting the needs of local residents.” Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Our new Housing Development Framework is helping speed up the delivery of good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across Wolverhampton, while providing affordable housing to residents. “It will also allow our housing team to plan estate regeneration and gain advice from contractors and developers, like Keon Homes, on buildability and viability as we work in partnership to ensure value for money. “This will prove to be an effective way to deliver new homes and, crucially, increases the city’s housing stock when it needs it most.” The Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework is in place for four years initially with the opportunity for it to be extended if the agreement is going well. It marks another significant year of growth for Keon Homes, who recently announced it is bringing the £35m Phase 3 of Port Loop in Birmingham back to life and successfully completed its first extra care scheme in Newport nine months ahead of schedule. “We have slowly, but surely been building a reputation in the East and West Midlands as a developer that organisations can trust and this means we are now working with eleven housing associations and the City of Wolverhampton Council on this landmark Framework,” added Richard Williams, Managing Director of Keon Homes. “The Direct Award is also very important. In essence, it means other local authorities can come to us direct with a site award, without having to go through the time-consuming and costly procurement process.” For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk or follow the company across its social media channels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major build-to-rent (BTR) scheme is set to transform the Kirkstall Road area of Leeds, delivering 618 new homes as part of a multi-million-pound investment backed by an unnamed US insurance company. The five-acre site, located next to the River Aire and just a mile from the city centre, will feature a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments spread across five buildings. Residents will have access to over 10,000 sq ft of shared amenities, including a lounge, co-working space, gym, two private roof terraces, and 3,800 sq ft of commercial space. Designed with sustainability in mind, the development will incorporate air source heat pumps and solar panels, targeting HQM 4* and EPC ‘B’ certifications. Glenbrook co-founder Ian Sherry said: “We are thrilled to be partnering again with Barings Real Estate on this impactful project. This development not only addresses the urgent need for housing in Leeds but also contributes to the revitalisation of the Kirkstall Road area. We believe creating high-quality living spaces is essential for fostering thriving communities.” Ben Pile, head of European residential investment and asset management at Barings Real Estate, highlighted Leeds as a key market for institutional residential investment. He said: “Given the stabilising economic and political environments in the UK, and as we enter a new real estate cycle in Europe, we expect the picture for residential property—and our other preferred sector of logistics—to become even more positive. We are seeking further opportunities to deploy capital on behalf of our partners.” This latest funding deal marks the fourth collaboration between Glenbrook and Barings. Allsop Letting and Management will oversee operations at the Leeds site upon completion. CBRE advised Glenbrook on the transaction. Construction is now underway, with the scheme expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals